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India Raw..Anytips??

I am concerned I may have to eat cooked food going to India..i am not a new raw foodie but I hope I can take green superfoods etc and maybe nuts will be ok and some fruits what do you think?? Hard skinned fruits? Any help from those who have been there or know someone who has been there….

Thanks

Comments

  • 1sweetpea1sweetpea Raw Newbie

    I think you should eat the cooked food and truly experience all that India has to offer. You can buy plenty of fruits, vegetables and nuts in India to do raw self catering, but to avoid the incredible vegetarian cuisine would be a real shame. You can stay raw for a couple of meals each day, but don’t avoid cooked food and restaurants. India is probably one of the few, if not the only, country in the world where you can find vegetarian restaurants easily. Granted, it won’t necessarily be completely vegan, but how can you miss out on all the wonderful dishes India has to offer? You can go right back to your 100% raw lifestyle upon your return, but you’ll be happier if you ease up a bit while travelling. Bring your green superfoods, source out the best produce markets, but allow yourself some cooked food at least at dinners.

    I’m going to India for 6 weeks in January. I fully intend to stay vegetarian, but I have no intention of trying to stay raw in a country where hundreds of millions of its citizens are starving and would do anything just to have a hot meal. I certainly won’t hold myself above eating what the local vegetarians would eat.

  • You can get tons of varieties of vegetables, fruits and nuts very easily in India. If you can’t do without superfoods, I’d recommend you carry your own. If you are not 100% raw, I second sweetpea’s suggestion of having atleast 1 cooked meal while you are there.

  • Thankyou so much both of you guys. I think you are both right. It would be kinda stressful if I didn;t eat a little bit of cooked. I have been 100 percent raw for about 5 years so I am not new to raw but recently I fell off the wagon a bit and have been bout 90-95 percent raw or there abouts for a few months. I am not going to be fanatical about it and would prefer to have indian…raw style which was beautiful cuisine I tried in NY but I TOTALLY agree with you about the many many many people starving etc. That has TOTALLY put things into perspective for me. Many many many thankyous to you both.

  • 1sweetpea1sweetpea Raw Newbie

    Have a spectacular time in India!

  • CarmentinaCarmentina Raw Newbie

    I love Indian food, but it was waaaaaaay to spicy in India for my taste and I couldn’t taste anything but hot. I couldn’t tell what I was eating cuz it all tasted the same. Spicy! Except for the yummy naan and coconut deserts. Toward the end of my trip, when my stomach couldn’t take any more spice, I’d have plain rice with fruit. The fruit was to die for, but you have to be careful about it not being rinsed in dirty water, or you’ll suffer.

  • WinonaWinona Raw Newbie

    These two cuties might be able to help you! http://roshis.com/

    Rishi went to india for three months recently. Perhaps he has some raw tips!

  • KristensRawKristensRaw Raw Newbie

    I like what sweetpea has to say about enjoying some cooked food there (although I’d stay strictly vegan if it were me). When I went to Bora Bora I packed green powder, packaged bars, and packaged hemp seeds in my suitcase to facilitate my stay.

    Cheers to your trip!!! Kristen Suzanne

     

  • You guys are the best!!!! Seriously I feel so so so grateful to have some lovely thoughts sent my way….I wish I had been ready for this on my raw journey earlier because its like you are helping me think!! I know it sounds funny, but its not my strong point :). Kristen Suzanne. Thanks for the great ideas…wish I could get hemp seeds in good ole oz, but I think its illegal. We only have hemp oil which isn;t for eating…only for skin. Green powder, packaged bars!!! Good idea.

    Winona…will check out the two cuties you’re suggesting and Carmentina thankyou for your insigtful words and suggestion too.

    Loads of love….

  • Thanks sweatpea….my favourite flower :) Yours too eh?

  • 1sweetpea1sweetpea Raw Newbie

    Actually, my parents used to call me sweetpea when I was little. One of them called me that recently and my boyfriend nearly gagged. I think it’s cute, though. There’s another person here with the name sweetpea, so I thought I’d add a number to it. I like 1sweetpea because it sounds like I’m “one sweet pea”—also cute.

    I’m surprised to hear that hemp oil isn’t for consumption in Australia. Boy, I guess we’re a lot more liberal here in Canada. I’ve been buying hemp seeds and edible hemp seed oil at my local supermarket since 2006. They’re both really tasty. You won’t need them in India, though. I’m sure you’ll have no trouble finding lots of beautiful nuts and seeds that you can buy in small quantities along the way. There’s no point in hauling a duffel bag of food to a country that has such a tremendous variety of vegetation. Green powder won’t weigh much in your bag and a few bars are fine, but I suspect you won’t need them too often. My attitude is: why eat packaged foods when you can have fresh?

    When do you leave for India? How long will you be there? What areas will you visit?

  • Well thankyou for your reply sweetpea….not sweatpea :) :) Well your boyfriend should call you that too don’t cha think? I am glad you think I will find nuts and seeds along the way. That is a great piece of information. Yes you are a lucky one to have hemp seeds etc. I mean I have contemplated just ordering them anyway to see what happens but I may get in trouble from customs or something and have them confiscated.

    In regards to when I leave for India …well I think in a month or so. We are trying to organise things you see. This friend is a new addition to the lexi list of friends and he lives in Melbourne and I live in Perth. He is Indian himself and doesn;t know that I am raw yet so I don’t want to be a pain so would like to know some stuff before I go. We will stay with his family in Punjab. I guess the draw back is that I hope he KNOWS we are just friends, which I have been clear with because I want to have a good and uncomplicated time away in another very different culture and country. I am just a little wary of recieving gifts from anyone from past experience, but I like to TRUST and BELIEVE that good things come to good people. I try not to question why someone would be so kind in offering me a fully paid ticket and accomodation. I have been asking my mates what they reckon and some say DO IT and others say DON”T DO IT! I usually like to go with the flow even though it sometimes gets me into trouble because I lack skills to navigate myself in and out of situations that sometimes happen. Anyway. Its all a learning curve. I grow wiser and wiser with every set of circumstances that are not to my liking. I think I will have a GREAT time however. I will be there for a month I think? and be staying probably just inPunjab. I hope to do some Indian dancing and play sitar and sing a fair bit too. I am in love with Indian music and dance too.

  • 1sweetpea1sweetpea Raw Newbie

    Staying with a family and being in the Punjab could pose a few more challenges for you. Punjabi food is more meat based than some other regions. If you are eating a lot of meals with the family, try to gently explain your diet to them. If they make anything meat free for you or as an accompaniment to the meat dishes, be grateful. If they don’t, try your hardest not to make them feel that you are rejecting them and the food they offer. It might be a nice idea to offer to make a raw meal for them. If they enjoy it, offer to do it anytime. They probably won’t take you up on it more than once or twice, but it’s a nice gesture that shows them that you want to be with them and share meals with them. When you buy fresh fruits and vegetables for yourself, buy extra and share it with the family. Hopefully they will embrace your differentness rather than see you as difficult or picky. I’m sure they will adore you for your interest in their music, dance, instruments and culture. Fortunately there are so many different people in India with different sets of religious beliefs and dietary laws. That might work in your favour when you show up on the scene as a raw vegan. Look up Jainism. The diet of Jains is vegan. I’m sure they cook their food, but they are so careful not to take any lives in the process of collecting and eating food that theirs is a very restricted diet. Maybe you could explain your choices in a similar fashion. Don’t claim to be a Jain, of course, but the people you meet might be better able to grasp the concept of your lifestyle if you make comparisons to that approach to food and diet. Just a thought.

    I really hope your friend is 100% clear that you are just friends. Be sure his family knows too, or they might have other ideas. ;-) Do you think that he fancies more than just friendship with you? Be careful, be firm and be prepared to take off on your own if things don’t go as you hope. Are you comfortable travelling on your own? You’ll meet people everywhere you go, so you wouldn’t be alone for long. If you’re still in India in January, my boyfriend and I will be there. Keep my e-mail address handy. jweiser68@gmail.com. It’s comforting to know that you’re not entirely alone and not knowing anyone in a gigantic foreign country. That said, I think you’ll have a fantastic time, particularly if you are fun loving and willing to jump in and dance and sing and be part of any party.

  • hi lexiloo,

    Sorry its taken me so long to respond to your post. I’ve seen it a few times, but I’ve been really busy with my classes and all.

    Anyways, heres an intro about raw traveling in india:

    Staying 100% raw will be nearly impossible. Actually staying 50% raw will be nearly impossible. Salads and fruits for meals in India are just about as foreign an idea as someone living there can imagine. You’re best bet is to just eat as much fruit as possible. Sadly, if you’re leaving soon, you won’t be there in a very good fruit season (mangoes, lichees, jackfruit, candy apple, and watermelon season have already passed). The good thing is, wherever you go, you’ll be able to find plenty of vegetarian food. Vegan food, however, is a different story. Indian people have a very deep respect for cows and anything that comes from a cow is considered holy (milk, cheese, ghee, yogurt, urine, feces). Many dishes will contain dairy products (paneer or yogurt usually) or be cooked in ghee (clarified butter).

    So after all that, I have a few tips:

    1. Carry a knife. It’ll always be useful for cutting fruit at fruit stands which are everywhere 2. If you’re in the South, drink as many coconuts as you can. They’ll help you’re digestion, keep you cool, and are more delicious than any coconut you’ve ever had here in the states. 3. Don’t worry too too much about the water. You can wash your fruit in it, brush your teeth with it, shower in it, with no problem. Do, however, drink bottled water only or buy a water purifier that you take with you. 4. Be careful with street food. I was able to handle it with no problem because I was there for 3 months and likely because I am Indian. If its piping hot and fresh, it is probably ok. 5. You’re gonna throw up at least a few times. Don’t stress about it. 6. You’re gonna get diarrhea many times. Don’t stress about it. 7. There’s toilet paper in very few places. Eat with your right hand, wipe with the left. 8. Finally, and most importantly, once you arrive find an ayurvedic store, and buy as many Triphala pills as you can carry. Triphala is a combination of three herbs that helps digestion and can be taken as a daily tonic. It will keep your stomach flowing and going pretty damn well. I bought the Himalayan brand pills for Rs 70. You can find that brand in most places.

    If you have any more questions, feel free to email me at rishi@roshis.com.

    Good luck!

  • Also, just one correction to what sweetpea wrote. Jains are NOT vegan. They are vegetarian but also do not eat certain foods like onion, garlic, and green chilies. They also try not to eat spicy food. Non-Jains will refer to this food as “sattvic” (meaning without quality). Jains DO eat dairy products though.

    Also, in India, “vegetarian” means possibly with eggs, and “pure vegetarian” absolutely without eggs. Either way though, I don’t know of any lunch/dinner dish that has eggs in it.

    And on a final note, most small shops and some decent shops will not keep their sugar covered. This means there is usually a few ants crawling around in there. Shopowners likely will not take the time to pick the ants out before they serve you. So you might have to pick ants out of your tea as I did a few times. Just don’t stress it, its India.

  • Hi there Mr Rishi. I am so stoked by your comment..so much information!! Thankyou thankyou thankyou….I am going to Punjab too which is your home town no?

  • Sweetpea…..thankyou sweetheart. Cool message. Will jot down your email and touch base closer to when all is sorted out.

  • haha yea Punjab is my hometown. Make sure to go to Amritsar and visit the Golden Temple. And tell me all about it when you get back!

    have a good time!

  • 1sweetpea1sweetpea Raw Newbie

    Sorry for the bad info on Jains. I was on the right track, though. RishiFromRoshis, can I pick your brain for a few travel tips? I’m travelling from Mumbai, up into Gujarat, then on to Rajasthan, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, all in January and February. Do you think I a) need to take malaria medication as a preventative measure, and b) do I need a mosquito net at this time of year? I am a bit of a mosquito magnet, but on my last two vacations (Central America and Southeast Asia—Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos) I took antimalarials and lugged a net around in my backpack for 6 weeks each time, but only used the net once. Do I realistically need to bring the net this time? What are the mosquitoes like in the winter time? I realize my destinations are further south than the Punjab, but I’m hoping you’ve travelled in other areas as well and might be able to give me some knowledgable advice. I’m desperately trying to keep my pack to 22 lbs or less. Last year it was about 28 lbs and I really felt that a lot of what I brought was unnecessary. I plan to buy a lot of clothes in India, so my bag will start out lighter, but get heavier as the weeks go by. Any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

  • Hey sweetpea,

    A lot of people will tell you different things about the malaria pills, but i’ll just tell you that I was in India for 3 months and didn’t take a single medication. I also didn’t get ANY shots before going (nor have I ever had any shots put in my body in my life). There are 1 billion people living in India, and very few of them have malaria.

    Here’s the best advice I can give you on the subject: If you think you’re gonna get sick, you probably will. If you believe that you are healthy, and that you will be healthy, you’re going to be healthy. Just know that you are in a new country and you should be cautious of some things.

    As far as mosquitos go, you’re going during the cool season, well past Monsoon season. Basically, you shouldn’t have too much of a problem. Plus, I traveled all over the country and very few hotels (even the cheap, cheap ones) had much of a mosquito problem. A better thing to do would be to follow what locals do and eat lots of Indian pickles, known as achar. Achar gives you blood a smell mosquitos don’t like, so you don’t get bitten. Best of all achar is totally raw.

    I hope this helps. Again, you can message me here if you have more questions, but its probably a good idea to send me an email too (rishi@roshis.com).

  • Millions of people are starving in the world. Does that mean I owe it to them to eat cooked food?? What kind of reasoning is this?

    People on a raw site are openly advocating eating cooked foods in India when it so, so easy to get endless fresh fruits and veggies there.

    Be aware that when you venture into the realm of cooked foods it's very hard to get back to raw. Remember why you went raw in the first place.

  • Eat the local food until you learn to haggle with street vendors from someone who lives there.

    Try it cooked - I wouldn't eat much not cooked until I was really sure about the restaurant.

    There are restaurants with entire menus of hundreds of vegetarian items! I've never seen so much!

    Fresh juice and juice/milk smoothies are available on every street corner in the cities - always ask for no sugar (unless you want it, I suppose).

    Butterfruit = avocado and butterfruit milk is good (I'll be adapting the nutmilk version when I return home!!!!!!!)

    Its really worth it to try the food while you are there - make some local friends and have them show you veg restaurants that are good.

    All my plans for being a healthy raw foodest went out the window when I first tried pao bhaji and had galoob jamoons.

    Imagine... imagine a world where you can walk across the street and have someone give you fresh watermelon juice (oh, and its really a fresh watermelon), for 20 cents in your own money. Just twenty cents for a big heaping glass of pineapple juice - or mango juice... Mmmm.... Juices you haven't even heard of are there.

    MOSQUITOS - Everyone here has something called 'odomos' which is non-viol smelling cream which makes mosquitos just leave you alone like magic. I don't know the chemical components but I know that it works, and that it causes me no ill side effects. The electric plugin mosquito things work great too. You could try to deal without these conveniences but I did just that last week and upon the poor decision of using a loofah I scratched the SEVEN HUNDRED MOSQUITO BITES on my right arm and had a huge red disgusting rash that still hasn't gone away.

    Don't scratch your mosquito bites.

    Wear long sleeves.

    Do some research please.. on the 'indian head nod'. If you know that it exists when going in, your trip will be better.

    On a side note - after having lived here two months I know that if I had a kitchen properly equipped with necessary utensils for cooking I would be 100% raw here and never have a single problem finding fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seed or grains. Instead of a $100 grocery bill at home for fresh produce I would have an equivalent 20 dollar grocery bill here and the food would be fresher and experience better.

    I'm moving here.

    Bye.

  • Raw CurlsRaw Curls Raw Newbie

    I agree about the faulty reasoning, if you are already 100% raw then why break it just because others aren't eating. On the other hand, if the raw food isn't safe, that is a logical reason to allow some cooked in, not to mention if Indian food does a number on your intestines. I love Indian food myself, but it doesn't always love me. If you are only there for a few days and there are bananas available you could live on those if you had to.

    One of those things where you have to weigh the odds - do you want to go and enjoy the food, will you be strong enough to get back on track when you return, are you willing to risk the side effects that might occur when you eat cooked? Also - you can put limits on yourself, don't eat any grains or starches, just stick to cooked veggies and fruit if you have to.

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